Live Review: Chastity Belt at Star Theater

Photo by Dean Stephens

Words: Liz Garcia

Photography: Dean Stephens

Little by little the Star Theater became packed for a fun and intimate performance by Seattle-based band, Chastity Belt, on Friday night. The four piece group, originally from Walla Walla, is currently touring for their latest album, I Used to Spend So Much Time Alone, which was released earlier this summer.

Photo by Dean Stephens

Opening for Chastity Belt was Portland band, Strange Ranger and Never Young, from Oakland. Among Strange Ranger’s brief set was their latest single, “House Show,” off their upcoming album, Daymoon, set to release in October. Throughout the opening acts’ performances, members of Chastity Belt were floating in and out of the room, enjoying the show along with the rest of the audience, which just goes to show not only how cool and laid-back these ladies are, but also how supportive they are of their touring mates.

Chastity Belt received a warm welcome from the crowd when they came on stage. Fans were especially thrilled by the straw sun hat Julia Shapiro was wearing. Who says sun hats are only for the day time?

Before starting Shapiro informed everyone that they would be playing a lot of songs from the new album. Keeping their promise to the crowd, they opened with “Complain.”

Photo by Dean Stephens

After playing a few songs, the ladies mentioned that they had to catch a 6 A.M. flight to Kentucky the next day. Despite having to be up early in the morning, Chastity Belt did not hold back at at all. For “Stuck” Gretchen Grimm and Shapiro swapped places, Grimm on the microphone singing and Shapiro drumming away.

Of course Chastity Belt couldn’t just play all new songs. Mid-set they pleased the crowd with a few songs from their 2015 album, Time to Go Home, including “Drone” and the title track.

Photo by Dean Stephens

Chastity Belt closed their set with “Different Now,” a favorite off their new album. Even though the night was soon coming to an end, the audience pushed that fact to the back of their minds and enjoyed every second of the last song, dancing and nodding along to the upbeat and infectious guitar hook. It was not only a great song to end the show, but also a good song to end the work week and send the crowd off into their weekends.

Photo by Dean Stephens

But, what would a Chastity Belt show be without songs from their 2013 debut album, No Regerts? Sure enough, they got back on the stage and as soon as the familiar guitar melody of “Seattle Party” rang out the crowd came back to life. At least half the crowd must have been singing along. Before leaving the stage for good this time, the Seattle band read what was probably on many of the concert-goers minds and played their hit, “Joke.” Shortly after, Chastity Belt gave a group thank you to the audience, leaving everyone reeling from the show.